Special Programs

This year, Penn Model Congress is pleased to offer three different special programs for those delegates who wish to take on a more challenging and exciting schedule at the conference. All three programs require extra preparation prior to the conference. Only delegates who are willing to put in the extra effort to prepare for these programs should participate. Also, with the exception of high-ranking Executive Branch officials, students may not participate in more than one special program.

The Supreme Court program is currently in its fifth year at Penn Model Congress. Over the course of the conference, delegates play the roles of Supreme Court Justices, in addition to acting as petitioner and respondent attorneys arguing before the Court.

Each school is invited to send a team of two delegates to the Supreme Court Program. For scheduling purposes, please make sure the two delegates are either both in the House or both in the Senate (color does not matter).

• Supreme Court Program Homepage

The Executive Branch is Penn Model Congress's newest special program. Led by a student elected President of the United States, the Executive Branch consists of the President's Cabinet and closest advisors. Delegates will discuss signing or vetoing legislation passed by Congress and will attempt to tackle some of the most difficult issues facing our nation. Some of the Cabinet Officers with relevant jurisdictions also sit on the National Security Council (see below).

Because of the competitive nature of the Executive Branch program, all interested delegates must apply to participate. Only one student from each school may apply. For scheduling purposes, all delegates in the Executive Branch should be in a Senate committee (color does not matter).

• Executive Branch Program Homepage

• Position Descriptions

The National Security Council is the President's principal vehicle for responding to national security crises. Along with certain high-ranking officers from the Executive Branch program, participating delegates will represent either the Pentagon, the State Department, or the White House. Because these crises can occur at any time, delegates on the National Security Council are on-call to respond to an emergency 24 hours a day.

Each school may have at most one student on the National Security Council. If a delegate from your school is filling one of the seven Executive Branch roles that also sit on the NSC, that delegate also counts as your school's spot on the NSC.

• National Security Council Program Homepage